HC Deb 03 March 1969 vol 779 cc19-21
10. Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will publish the comments which he has received on the Green Paper on the Structure of the Health Service.

29. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when, following the Green Paper on the future rôle of the National Health Service, he will issue a White Paper.

Mr. Crossman

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to the Written Answer I gave to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis) on 25th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 285–6.]

Mr. Macmillan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as we found that the criticisms of the Green Paper were unanimous—particularly in regard to matters being over-centralised—we are glad that he has found the same consensus? Will he publish, either separately or as part of the revised Green Paper, the comments he has received, because if he does not do this we will not have a method of knowing what those comments have been?

Mr. Crossman

I can only repeat what I said when the hon. Gentleman put a similar Question to me recently. We had put no sort of limitation on the organisations publishing their own comments or giving them to the Press. They were given to us in confidence. I am, however, making arrangements for them to be placed in the Library as soon as possible. To answer his question about publishing these matters, this issue must be considered carefully since publication of something of this sort at an extensive length must involve considerable expense.

Mr. Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the most serious defects in the National Health Service is the inadequate staffing of hospital casualty departments? In his rethinking of the Green Paper, will he see that this matter gets the due consideration it deserves?

Mr. Crossman

That is a different question. A Question on this subject occurs later on the Order Paper.

Mr. Pavitt

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the statement which he made on Friday there were two special references, one about the need for a reunification of the National Health Service and the other concerning the implementation of the Service at local level? Is he aware that that statement is widely appreciated?

Lord Balniel

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friends and I welcome the statement he made over the weekend, moving away from what we regard as the regrettable over-centralised features of the Green Paper, something which has been frequently urged by my hon. Friends? As he was aware that a Question was down to him to be answered today, does he consider that the more correct place to have made a statement about such a major move on policy would have been in the House of Commons?

Mr. Crossman

I agree that one must always reflect carefully on matters of this kind. I thought that as I had received a number of representations and was anxious to let those concerned know my mind on this issue, it would be convenient, instead of letting them continue to waste their time by purely negative criticisms of the one-tier system, that they should concentrate their thoughts on the two-tier system. I have borne in mind the unanimous feeling of hon. Gentlemen opposite on this subject and the fact that they agree with many of my hon. Friends.

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